Home owners urged to ensure their property is fitted with a fire and smoke alarm

West Lothian Council's Environmental Health Service wants to make the public aware that following a recent change in law; all homes in Scotland must be fitted with fire and smoke alarms.

11 February

Although it has been a requirement for private rented homes for some time, Changes in the law came into effect on 1 February 2019 to make it a requirement for all homes to be fitted with fire and smoke Alarms.

The update also includes carbon monoxide alarms where heating or cooking in the home is done using gas or solid fuels like coal or wood.

Home owners have until 1 February 2021 to ensure that their home meets the new criteria.

In light of the changes, home owners are encouraged to check that any alarm fitted in their home comes from a reputable and trusted business.

West Lothian Trusted Trader was launched in November 2013 and allows consumers to search for a reputable trader.

Executive councillor for the Environment Tom Conn said: "This is a new requirement through law that all home owners must adhere to by February 2021. We think it's important to highlight this change in the law in order to give local residents ample time to check that their property is correctly equipped and find a reputable and trusted business that will fit an alarm that meets the correct standard."

"It's additionally important to point out that this requirement already exists for private rented properties. It is entirely unacceptable for any private rented property to not to comply and tenants should look to ensure their landlord complies as soon as possible."

Note to Editor

The current standards for provision of fire and smoke alarms, and for carbon monoxide alarms, in private rented housing will be extended to all tenures by the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 (Tolerable Standard) (Variation of Criteria) Order 2019, coming into force from 1 February 2019 (and into effect from 1 February 2021). Because this duty will be inserted into the tolerable standard it does not need to be included in the repairing standard, and is therefore removed.